Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General (IG) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur made the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday.
The police have arrested a constable who played a central role in facilitating the January 2023 suicide bombing at the Police Lines mosque in Peshawar, which killed at least 86 police officers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Inspector General, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, revealed that the arrested suspect, Mohammad Wali, was a key figure in the attack.
The suicide bombing occurred in the mosque’s central hall during Zuhr prayers, collapsing the roof on those in attendance. The attacker, positioned in the front row, detonated his explosives, killing many officers. Sahibzada Noor Ul Amin, the mosque’s Imam, was also martyred in the blast. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Key Facilitator Arrested
According to IG Gandapur, Mohammad Wali was arrested in a raid at Jamil Chowk, where police recovered two suicide jackets. During investigation, it was revealed that Wali had been in contact with members of the terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) since 2021. He had also traveled to Afghanistan that year, where he met with JuA militants, including a key figure, Mohammad Khurasani.
Wali was initially arrested by Afghan forces but was released with the help of JuA operative Junaid. After his release, Wali continued to collaborate with the group, providing them with crucial information, including a detailed map of the Police Lines. He also alerted them about the successful attack following its execution. In return, Wali received a payment of Rs 200,000 via hawala (a money transfer system) at Chowk Yadgar.
IG Gandapur also disclosed that Wali had been involved in other criminal activities, including a 2022 attempt on a religious cleric’s life and the Warsak Road bomb blast.
Confession and Background
In a video presented during the press conference, Wali confessed to his involvement in the attack. He explained that he had joined the police force on December 31, 2019, and soon after, began communicating with Junaid of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar via social media. Under Junaid’s influence, Wali expressed his support for the militant group and later traveled to Afghanistan to join them.
Wali also disclosed that following the Police Lines bombing, he was reassigned to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Peshawar, but his role in the terrorist network remained active.
The arrest of Mohammad Wali marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation of the tragic January 2023 suicide attack, shedding light on the involvement of police personnel in supporting terrorist activities.
